China defense budget rises at slowest pace in decades: report

China’s defence budget will rise seven percent to $ 151 billion this year, the slowest annual percentage increase since 1991 and roughly in line with decelerating economic growth, Bloomberg News reported Monday. The budget is normally included in public documents released at the opening of the country’s 10-day annual legislative session, which began Sunday, but was absent this year, adding to perennial concerns abroad over Chinese military transparency. The 2017 budget will be 1.044 trillion yuan ($ 151 billion), a finance ministry information officer confirmed to Bloomberg News.